The sand crunched under Bellaâs school shoes, and the salty air blew through her hair. Even though she had lived in Sandmouth for a month now, Bella still felt a thrill whenever they went to the beach. And as the beach was on the way to and from school, Bella walked along it twice a day.
It was a bright, clear afternoon. Staring up at the seagulls in the blue sky, Bella was caught by surprise when a sand ball hit her on the back of her coat.
âHey!â Bella shouted. She swung round. âLouie, donât!â
Louie stuck out his tongue and aimed at Bella with his second sand ball. Bella looked over her little brotherâs shoulder and grinned. A tall girl with blonde plaits was creeping up on Louie. In her hand was the biggest sand ball Bella had ever seen.
âGet him, Amber!â Bella shouted.
She cheered as her best friend Amber dumped the sand ball down the back of Louieâs neck.
âThatâs not fair!â Louie complained, wriggling and laughing.
âCourse itâs fair,â Amber said. âThere arenât any rules in a sand-ball fight.â
Louie threw his second sand ball at Amber. It missed.
âTough luck, Louie!â Bella called as Amber caught up with her.
Louie shrugged, grinning. He ran down to the edge of the sea to kick at the waves.
âI still canât believe you called your dog Snowy,â said Bella as they watched Amberâs jet-black spaniel splashing through the waves with Louie and Amberâs brother Joe.
âThatâs me!â Amber grinned. She pulled a silly face. âCrazee!â
Snowy plunged into the sea, soaking Louie and Joe. Their shouts floated up the beach towards Bella.
âSnowy really needs a wash,â Amber said, linking arms with Bella. âHeâs been in the sea so much lately that his coat feels like a doormat.â
âMum loves it when the dogs get really dirty,â Bella said. âItâs really satisfying, she says, seeing all the muck going down the plughole.â
Bellaâs mum Suzi had been rushed off her feet ever since opening her new dog parlour, Dream Dogs. Bella had lost count of the different kinds of dogs theyâd washed. Big ones, tiny ones, hairy ones and ones with hardly any coat at all, puppies and old ones and licky ones and growly ones. Bellaâs dog Pepper was used to it now, but for the first week heâd spent the whole time barking at the customers.
âItâs great that your mum can fit in Snowy today,â Amber said. âI know sheâs busy.â
Bella nodded. âMumâs booked eight dogs in to Dream Dogs today,â she said. âShe usually does four!â
âBecause of the Sandmouth Dog Show?â Amber guessed.
The annual dog show took place on the last Friday in February every year. It was held in the town hall, and had categories for everything, from proper pedigree dog competitions to funny classes for dogs that looked like their owners, or had the waggiest tale.
âYes,â Bella said. âI think everyone in Sandmouth is entering.â
âIncluding Snowy,â Amber agreed.
Bella and Amber both looked at the soggy spaniel as he galloped along the beach.
âItâs hard to believe Snowyâs a pedigree, isnât it?â said Amber.
âItâs hard to believe heâs a dog,â Bella giggled. âHe looks more like a sand monster. He needs a lot of work to get him ready for the show tonight.â
They climbed the steps up to the road. Louie and Joe jogged up after them, followed by Snowy and Amberâs mum Claire. Claire was tall and slim, and her short spiky hair was the same colour as Amberâs.
âItâs a big help that Amber and Joe can stay for tea with you today,â Claire said. âIâve got so much to do for Snowyâs class. The extra couple of hours will be a real help. Sometimes I think this dog showâs more trouble than itâs worth.â
âYou donât mean that, Mum,â said Amber. âYou love showing Snowy off.â
âWeâll bring Amber and Joe to the show,â said Bella. âWeâre coming anyway. Mum entered Pepper in the Most Obedient Dog class.â
Amber burst out laughing. âBut Pepper isnât obedient!â she said. âHe hardly ever does what your mum tells him!â
âI know,â Bella sighed. âBut he isnât a pedigree, and the Obedience class was the only group which had any space left. As usual, my mum left it till the last minute.â
Bellaâs dog Pepper was small and brown and very cute. But obedience really wasnât his thing. Bella felt nervous as she thought about tonightâs show.